The much-anticipated LRCA–Kaizen Paints U-17 Tournament launched in Lahore on Monday, marking the start of an exciting youth cricket competition. The opening day featured three fiercely contested Group A matches across different venues in the city, showcasing emerging talent and setting a high standard for the tournament ahead.
West Zone Blues Dominate with Bat and Ball
At the Aligarh Ground in Model Town, West Zone Blues secured a commanding 39-run victory over West Zone Whites. Choosing to bat first, West Zone Blues put up a strong total of 220 for 2 in their 35 overs. The innings was powered by a magnificent, unbeaten century from Inshal Ch, who smashed 126 runs. He received solid support from Abdul Rafi (39) and Hasan Bukhari (34). In response, West Zone Whites fought hard but were eventually bowled out for 181. Mehdi Ali's resilient 66 and Awais Khan's 38 were the main contributions. However, the star with the ball was Daniyal Tariq, who delivered a match-winning spell, claiming an impressive six wickets. For their outstanding all-round efforts, Inshal Ch and Daniyal Tariq were jointly awarded the Player of the Match title.
North Zone Blues Chase Down Target in Nail-Biter
Meanwhile, at the Kashmir Crown Ground, North Zone Blues clinched a tense victory over North Zone Whites by seven wickets. Batting first, North Zone Whites posted 154 for 8 in 30 overs, with M Muzammil top-scoring with 42 runs. Mirza Umar Baig was the chief destroyer for the Blues, taking four crucial wickets. In the chase, North Zone Blues reached the target in the final over, losing only three wickets. The victory was anchored by an unbroken partnership between M Ayaan, who scored 54 not out, and Arham Danish, who remained unbeaten on 53, guiding their team home.
Ubaidullah Shines in East Zone Derby
The third match of the day at the New Ittefaq Ground in Faisal Town saw East Zone Whites triumph over East Zone Blues by 27 runs. East Zone Whites set a target after scoring 186 for 9 in 35 overs, largely thanks to a brilliant 77 from Ubaidullah. When East Zone Blues came out to bat, they were dismissed for 159 in 31.5 overs, with Umar Farooq (35) and Arsalan Ali (34) offering some resistance. The hero of the match was undoubtedly Ubaidullah, who followed his batting performance with a superb bowling display, taking four wickets to seal the win and rightfully earn the Player of the Match award.
The opening day of the LRCA-Kaizen Paints U-17 Tournament successfully highlighted the depth of young cricketing talent in Lahore. With such competitive matches and stellar individual performances, the tournament promises more exciting cricket in the days to come.
